Anyone else?

[AML82]

I’m going to try and explain this in a way that makes sense. I have depression and anxiety, but I don’t take any meds and for a few months now I’ve been experiencing this weird sensation that I’m not real. Weird, right? I look in the mirror and I see some fictional character or something and not a real human being. I’ll stand there and stare at myself for a few minutes thinking I’ll come back into reality, but I never do. This feeling mostly only occurs when I look at myself in a mirror. Can anyone provide me with some insight on this?

[BlueSky125]

I’ve never experienced this, but this seams to fit with what you have described.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deper...

[AML82 in reply to BlueSky125]

Thank you!

[Caseopia]

I experience a sense of unreality where my body and head doesn't feel connected to the ground or earth. Or like I'm in another world. I have body dismorphia so I see myself different from what other see. I know that didn't help but the link BlueSky125 does look informative. I wish you all the best.

[AML82 in reply to Caseopia]

That’s exactly it. My head will start to feel like it’s floating, even though I can obviously see it’s attached to my body. Thank you so much!

[Caseopia in reply to AML82]

You're very welcome. It happens to me when I'm really anxious. It feels like I'm floating, or my head is really heavy and not attached. Its a feeling of unreality for me. It used to scare me. Sometimes still does but I tell myself it'll pass.

[Azirephale]

All my life I have had a similar sensation, except that it is the world around me that seems unreal. Once in a journal when I was a teenager I described it thus: Everything looks like a photographed album cover. I also would feel a sensation of rising, as if I were about to leave my body. It scared me alot when I was a kid because I feared if I DID rise I would not be able to come back.

[AML82 in reply to Azirephale]

That’s it! I feel like I’m going to rise out of my body into some other dimension. Now that I know I’m not the only one or that I’m not just crazy, I’m going to do some research. Thank you!

[Myre]

Azirephale described it exactly the way I feel it. Discussing points of insecurity with my sister, she had mentioned body image and I'd struggled to explain to her that where I am neither doubtful or negligent of my looks; I don't all together give it much importance. It appears to be as a mere wrapping to which the contents are dismissible and intangible. It's not fear rather I feel displaced. This is the face I've always had but I feel no real connection to it. Like it's me but not quite. Here's my deduction: Depression/ anxiety is an affliction of emotions resulting in a distortion of mannerisms. We commonly say " I don't even know myself anymore." Say for instance you want to chip in into conversations but somehow can't seem to speak in a manner suited to you. Or when you have a thought or feeling but it doesn't arise with as much sharpness as it would before. It feels like we are living through memories, thrown back in time but even those appear vague and dulled. I personally believe that depression suppresses character and individuality, or at the very least obscures it. We are stuck in a negative repetitive mindset, a transluscent film over our eyes; confused and trying to make sense of the innate instincts of our personality that occasionally escape the abyss. In a nutshell, it makes us feel like spectators in our own skin, mere observers rather than participators in our day to day lives. This is what I call character dissociation.

[AML82 in reply to Myre]

Wow, I’m honestly speechless. I feel like this is what I’ve been trying to say all this time, but I could never put the pieces together. Thank you so much for this. You’re exceptional at explaining things in a way others can understand.

[Myre]

Glad I could help. Wish all the best of luck in our endeavor to thwart this ilness.

❤️💋